The effect of dietary supplement with 17% high-amylose barley (Hordeum vulgare, HAB) 'Karmose' on boar taint was studied on 72 crossbred entire male pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) Swedish Yorkshire dams x Swedish Landrace sires). All pigs were fed the same commercial diet (12.4 MJ metabolised energy (ME) per kg, digestible crude protein (CP) 13.5%) twice a day until the average live weight (LW) in the pen reached 100 +- 11.8 kg. Then, 32 out of 72 pigs received an HAB diet. Half of these pigs received HAB for 14 days and the other half for 28 days. The pigs were slaughtered at an average LW of 122.3 +- 8.6 kg (age 167.2 +- 7.5 days). The HAB diet did not affect performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics, and puberty status, but reduced plasma skatole levels in the pigs (least squares means, 3.6 vs. 2.0 ng mlE-1, P = 0.037). However, this diet failed to reduce skatole, indole and androstenone levels in fat (P is greater than 0.10). Nevertheless, it is desirable to continue investigation of HAB to optimise the feeding procedure to improve efficiency of HAB effect on fat skatole levels. Additionally, validation of a greater amount of HAB in the diet should be performed.

In a trial whereby a large number of cows were needed to calve at approximately the same time, opportunity was taken to establish a crossbred cow population at the International Trypanotolerance (ITC). A slight improvement in the traditional husbandry system revealed a great productivity potential of these crossbreds. Their survival rate to one year (i.e., 90.0%for the Jersey X N’Dama (J X N) and 71.2% for the Friesian X N’Dama was proved satisfactory in the local environment, though conclusions are that more attention is needed for rearing Friesian type F1 calves in the tropical environment. With an overall mean birth weight of 17.7±4.1 kg and an overall mean daily weight gain (DWG) of 0.220±0.104 kg they attained an average weight of 100.6±29.9 kg at one year. Their relatively retarded growth recommended a better management. Puberty was attained at 478.2±13.9 days, age at first calving 970.5±94.1 days and the overall mean calving interval and open period were 400±82.5 and 117±83.2 days, respectively.

The research paper focuses on description of the pig (Sus scrofa domestica) farming tendencies in Latvia with the scope to give feeding characteristics in relation to emission outcome. In the recent years the concentration of pigs in farms with a herd size more than 10,000 has increased. With increase of the large farms the average feed consumption is more affected by one operator. Efficient utilization of nutrients content in feeding is crucial to meet environmental goals. It is one of the steps to achieve Nutrient Use Efficiency. There is relationship between crude protein and reduction of reactive nitrogen. Feed content not only affects excreted nitrogen, but also pH of manure and total ammonia Cal nitrogen. It is complex abatement measure to quantify reduction of the emission because of impact of various environmental factors. In Latvia, the most common are sows cross breeds (Yorkshire × Landrace) and on January 1, 2019 the biggest group accounted was fattening pigs with average dry feed consumption per day from 0.33 kg (live weight from 5 to 6 kg) up to 3.6 kg (live weight from 80 to 120 kg) with crude protein value from 163.5 g to 155.3 g per 1 kg feed dry matter. Excreted nitrogen (Nex) was calculated for these groups of pigs less than suggested values in guidelines for emission calculation. The highest calculated total NH3 emission is from fattening pigs group with live weight from 55 to 90 kg although the highest calculated Nex is for lactating sows. NOx also calculates as NO2 and the highest value was 3.23 g per one lactating sow.

The article analyses the data obtained while evaluating red deer calves on the red deer breeding farm ‘Dumpji’ during the herd’s annual prophylactic check-up in December and April of the years 2013 and 2014. Farm is a private enterprise owned by a company located in Northern Latvia. The study comprises data for calves born in 2013 (n = 36) that were born from the same hinds, but from different stags in consecutive years. It was discovered that the calves’ liveweight gain in 24 hours significantly decreases during wintering period. After the wintering smaller body mass was observed in calves of both sexes born in 2014; however, the body mass of bull calves born in both years of reference considerably exceeded that of the hind calves. In the group of hind calves born in both years of the study period the liveweight loss was observed during the wintering. Nevertheless, at the age of 1.5 years the lowest liveweight among hind calves was 82.4 kg (year 2013), and the highest 129.6 kg (year 2014). In the group of spikers, during the winter period liveweight loss was not observed. Analysis of the results revealed a close positive correlation between the liveweight in December and the liveweight in the spring among spikers and heifers alike. The conducted analysis of influencing factors attests to the fact that the liveweight at the age of six months has material impact on the animals’ liveweight both in the spring and at the age of 1.5 years.